Hello coffee lovers! To round out my coffee tutorials, I want to share the method that started my coffee journey and remains one of my favorites: the French press. It’s simple, reliable, and perfect when you need a straightforward, satisfying cup.
This is about French press coffee.
I’ve had my trusty Bodum French press for over a decade and it’s delivered thousands of cups. While it brewed well from the start, I’ve refined my approach over the years and learned a few tips to make a consistently great cup. If you’re new to coffee brewing, the French press is an excellent place to begin. If you’re already a fan, you may still pick up a helpful pointer or two.
Let’s get brewing.
How To Make French Press Coffee | 1-Minute Video
Start with good coffee beans. Buy quality beans, keep them whole until use, and grind them immediately before brewing. For a French press, use a coarse grind—about the texture of breadcrumbs. A burr grinder is ideal because it produces consistently sized grounds, which helps prevent over-extraction and a muddy cup. If you don’t have one, use any grinder that offers a coarse setting.
Measure your coffee. Ratios vary by taste, but a reliable starting point is 52 grams of whole beans for 4 cups of water (which produces about eight 4-ounce servings). If you don’t have a scale, that’s roughly 1/2 cup whole beans. Common equivalents:
- 8-cup French press = 4 cups water = 1/2 cup (52 g) whole beans
- 4-cup French press = 2 cups water = 1/4 cup (26 g) whole beans
- 2-cup French press = 1 cup water = 2 tbsp (13 g) whole beans
- 1-cup French press = 1/2 cup water = 1 tbsp (7 g) whole beans
Heat water to a boil, then remove it from heat and wait about 45 seconds before pouring. This cool-down avoids scalding the coffee; the ideal brewing temperature is near 195°F. Add the coarse grounds to the French press, then pour just enough water to saturate them. Use a kettle with a narrow spout if possible for more precise pouring. If needed, give the grounds a quick 3-second stir to ensure even saturation.
Let the coffee bloom for 1 minute.
After the bloom, pour in the remaining water, stir briefly to distribute the grounds evenly, place the lid on the press, and brew for 3 more minutes. The total brew time is 4 minutes.
Some people let the coffee bloom uncovered for a bit longer or skim floating grounds before plunging; those techniques can slightly change the flavor, so try them if you’re experimenting.
When the 4 minutes are up, gently and steadily press the plunger down until it reaches the bottom.
Immediately pour the coffee into your cups. If you aren’t going to drink it all at once, transfer any leftovers to a thermal container. Leaving brewed coffee sitting in the press with the grounds will continue extraction, making the coffee stronger and more bitter.
If the coffee is too strong, try reducing the coffee amount slightly or shortening the brew by 30 seconds. If it’s too weak, increase the coffee slightly or extend brew time by a minute or two. French press can emphasize bitterness more than some other methods; if you’re sensitive to bitterness, consider cold brew (no hot water contact during extraction) or pour-over (faster hot-water flow through grounds).
Coffee cheers to you!
French Press Coffee
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 cup (32 grams) good-quality whole coffee beans
Instructions
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Heat water in a kettle to boiling. While the water is heating, grind your beans to a coarse grind and add them to the bottom of the French press.
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When the water boils, remove it from heat and wait 45 seconds. Pour just enough water to wet the grounds, stir if needed for even saturation, and wait exactly 1 minute to allow the coffee to bloom.
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Pour the remaining water, stir quickly to distribute the grounds, cover with the lid, and let brew for 3 minutes more (4 minutes total).
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Gently press the plunger down until it reaches the bottom, then pour the coffee immediately. Transfer any leftover coffee to a separate container to avoid over-extraction.
Notes
Additional Info
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!Supplies:
French Press: Bodum Chambord Coffee Press
Mug: a comfortable favorite mug
Kettle: any kettle with a pour spout for control
Bar Spoon: a long spoon for gentle stirring
Coffee: choose fresh, quality beans from a trusted roaster